K-State 105 newsletter: Success in our first year

total jobs
created or retained because of
K-State 105 funding

total businesses
established or expanded because of
K-State 105 funding

K-State 105 is a university model for economic growth for all 105 Kansas counties.

In just one year, the K-State 105 ecosystem has created hundreds of jobs, supported businesses statewide and leveraged millions of dollars to strengthen our economy. These measurable outcomes reflect the power of collaboration, innovation and a shared vision for Kansas’ future — and we’re just getting started.

In this newsletter, we celebrate the real impact of K-State 105’s first year — the numbers, the stories and the progress that define our work. Explore our highlights and dive into the full report to see how we are building a stronger Kansas — together.

— Jessica Gnad, director, K-State 105

K-State has selected 11 projects for the first cohort of the K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative, which supports entrepreneurship and small business development across Kansas.

Learn more about upcoming events from

K-State 105 partners.

First Friday e-Call: CEO Program: Connecting youth to local small businesses

Friday, March 7 | Virtual

Partner: Kansas State University/K-State Research and Extension

Learn more about this event.

Gamechangers and Champions 2025 bracket bash

Friday, March 21 | Wichita

Partner: NXTUS

Learn more about this event.

First Friday e-Call: Save Your Town: Uniquely doable ideas

Friday, April 4 | Virtual

Partner: Kansas State University/K-State Research and Extension

Learn more about this event.

Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge

Thursday, April 17 | Manhattan

Partners: NetWork Kansas, K-State Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship in the College of Business Administration, K-State Research and Extension

Learn more about this event.

First Friday e-Call: Regional Food Business Center and Rural Grocery Initiative

Friday, May 2 | Virtual

Partner: Kansas State University/K-State Research and Extension

Learn more about this event.

NetWorked for Change Conference

Wednesday, May 21, and Thursday, May 22 | Wichita

Partner: NetWork Kansas

Learn more about this event.

Topeka start-up businesses collaborate to learn and grow together

Feb. 28 | KSNT

Read more.

‘K-State Impact Day’: Highlighting the effects K-State has partially or fully made for Kansas

Feb. 19 | WIBW

Read more.

Within Reason with Mike Matson

Jan. 23 | KMAN

Listen to the episode.

1960 Kimball Ave., Suite 145, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 • k-state.edu/105

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$5.5+ million

additional matching funds
generated by K-State 105 partners and invested back in Kansas communities

Celebrating our
K-State 105 success

546

Kansas employees
acquired new skills or received training because of K-State 105 funding

We're highlighting our first year of supporting economic growth across all 105 counties of Kansas.

Message from the director

Take a closer look at the first year of K-State 105

K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative

$5.5+ million

additional matching funds generated by K-State 105 partners and invested back in Kansas communities

Celebrating our K-State 105 success

546

Kansas employees acquired new skills or received training because of K-State 105 funding

We're highlighting our first year of supporting economic growth across all 105 counties of Kansas.

Message from the director

Take a closer look at the first year of K-State 105

K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative

additional matching funds
generated by K-State 105 partners and invested back in Kansas communities

Celebrating our
K-State 105 success

Kansas employees
acquired new skills or received training because of K-State 105 funding